with some graphics by Your-Digital-Dream/Traci Sims
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Boo!
Here is our Jack-o-Lantern, carved last night. Hubby scooped out the guts, and I carved the face. Son was the supervisor.
The face looks like it was carved by a lunatic. Well...it was!
I have been crazy busy with getting ready for craft shows, one in less than 2 weeks and the next in about a month. Yikes!~~~XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends!~~~
I am delighted to announce the addition of LOTS of new goodies in Dime Store Chic this evening! And in the next couple of weeks I will be listing LOTS of more goodies in Dime Store Chic! Busy busy!
Here is a peek at what I put into Dime Store Chic this evening...
Vintage charms!
Dolls!
Paint tins!
Woof!
And so much more! If you have a minute please stop by for a peek! I will be adding more goodies in the next weeks. Most items are $5 and under too!~~~XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends!~~~
Thanks to those of you who took a visit to my Dime Store Chic etsy shop HALF OFF Everything Sale! There is still LOTS of goodies for you AND I have extended the sale until Saturday, October 29th! After that day anything left will be permanently removed from Dime Store Chic AND beginning October 29th I will re-stock Dime Store Chic with fresh vintage goods! So if there is anything in Dime Store Chic now that you think you might like to own, you may want to "pop" on it because it will be gone after October 29th! Remember the coupon code is: DSCHALFOFF. Thanks and have a great day!
And...
...Looky here what I won from the fabulous Vicki over at Broken Memories!
A copy of Somerset Publications delish new magazine "Mingle" AND the coolest "bony" metal salad/serving tongs! I am one lucky lucky girl! Thanks so much, Vicki! Check out her blog for fabulous eye candy!
And...
TODAY, Hubby and I are celebrating our 25th SILVER wedding anniversary! Well, actually tomorrow we'll do the celebrating and spend the day together going out to the mountains leaf peeping. 25 years. Imagine!~~~XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends!~~~
Early Friday morning my neighbor Ann and I drove out to Leesburg, VA to Morvern Park to the annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale! This was my first time at this massive sale and I was so excited despite the fact that it was raining a monsoon!
Morvern Park is acres and acres of lush rolling hill and fenced in areas for horse shows and activities. The rummage sale was held in the arena and several of the horse stables too!
Here is a view of the arena full of rummage goodies and lots of folks shopping. We got in at 8 a.m. with a $5 early entry ticket. At 9 a.m. the rest of the general public was allowed in for no charge. Things got crowded very quickly!
The arena is divided into several large areas with certain rummage goods. Here is their "Antiques" area. The prices were pretty decent, in general they were less than at an antique mall.
Here is the boutique area with nicer things that are not necessarily "antiques". The rest of the large space has clothes, household goods, linens, lots of furniture, and electronics.
I had to race through the rain, dodging mud puddles and horse poo, to get to the horse barns which had holiday and crafts, toys, sporting goods, and books.
While waiting in line I snapped a photo of the book barn.
The center area had an assortment of fiction and non-fiction and children's books. And each stable, yes horse stable, there were specialty areas for records, movies, nature books, travel books, etc. While in the book barn, gthe rain was pounding the tin roof so hard you couldn't hear yourself think it was so loud! Glad I was inside rather than dashing from building to building. The book bard was a great place to browse while waiting for the rain to let up.
I would absolutely go back next year! The $5 early entry is well worth the price and ALL the money earned through ticket and rummage sales goes to the hospital charities. But I would hope that next year the rain would stay away. The hems of my jeans were soaked and coated in mud. But I found bags and bags of wonderful goodies for crafting and for my etsy shops. A great, wet n' wild day!~~~XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends!~~~
This past weekend was so lovely! Behind our house, on one end of the field, is the most beautiful pair of maple trees that always turns color before the others.
They just glow!
Even doggie Sheila likes the trees!
Of course, Sheila likes to pull down bamboo too!
And for some reason I decided to line up row upon row of pink rubber ducks on the outside table.
It was just one of those days :)
Thanks for stopping by and have a "ducky" day!~~~XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends!~~~
This week I made two BIG pin cushions!
Isn't she sweet?
And soooo Tweet!
Both BIG. Both here!~~~XXOO, Beth
I love my I-pad. I love Pixar films.
Thank you, Steve Jobs. Thank you.
XXOO, Beth
Hello, My Friends~~~
As the air turns crisp and summer become more of a distant fond memory, my thoughts and actions turn to craft show season.
I began crafting in ernest back in 1998, selling my wares on ebay hoping someone would like my offerings of totes made from vintage fabric, mostly barkcloth that I had found in my grandmother's estate. When the buyers came, and thrilled me to pieces, I knew I had truly found my bliss. The thought that I could happliy create at home and sell on the World Wide Web was incredibly exciting. My work has evolved and changed over the years, adding pin cushions, whimsical holiday wreaths and decorations all made from vintage materials that I have found on a never ending treasure hunt. I have switched from selling on ebay to exclusiovely selling on etsy. So happy, so wonderful.
I first thought of taking my creations on the road when our son began high school and the school held an annual craft show. That first show was wonderful. I promised myself that I would partiticpate in the school's craft show during the four years our son was in high school, mostly to support the school, and possibly make a little pocket money. I would only do that craft show, and no more.
But other opportunities came and I must take the brass ring and participate. This year I find myself participating in two craft shows. The high school show on November 12th and a very popular craft show in Williamsburg which spans 2 days on December 3-4. Suzy, my BFF, and consumate cheerleader got us into this exclusive show.
In addition to the two craft shows this year, I have my etsy shop, which is my favorite place to present my creations!
So I find myself creating in double time for the craft shows and for my etsy shop. But what do I take to the craft show and what do I list in my etsy shop? Everything I make is one-of-a-kind. How can I choose which would be popular at a craft show or on etsy?
Will the folks coming to the craft show "get me"? That is the question, isn't it? I know I'm not the only crafter who has ventered on the craft show curcuit who has pondered this.
From past experience at the high school craft show, I found that totes sell very well and pin cushions do sort of OK. Christmas decorations do well but it depends on what type. Wreaths, which I just love making and have a large amount of vintage Christmas goodies on each one, sell at a snail's pace. Perhaps decorated bottle brush trees will fare better at the craft show. I'm willing to try.
I have gradually and carefully been layering newly made pin cushions and holiday decorations into a large plastic tub for transport to the craft shows.
And placing newly made totes into another tub until it is full and I need to start filling another. Because I am doing TWO craft shows. Sometimes the thought is a bit overwhelming.
Past experience has told me to take totes to the craft show, but I should put some on etsy too, to strike a balance with the pin cushions listed there. But pin cushions do so much better on etsy and should I continue to list them and not bring any to the craft shows? My head spins.
Oh, I should just get a grip and find...
...Balance. Should I even spend a moment thinking about this? My time is best served at the work table or sewing machine. That is the answer. So I'll end this post after thanking you for allowing me to think out loud here in my little corner of the internet. My sewing machine is calling.~~~XXOO, Beth
